E-mail: nass-ny@nass.usda.gov
(518) 457-5570
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Marisa Reuber
Monday, January 6, 2011
www.nass.usda.gov/ny
USDA TO MEASURE THE FINANCIAL HEALTH OF AMERICAN FARMS
Starting in January, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service
(NASS) will contact farmers and ranchers across the nation to conduct the Agricultural Resource
Management Survey (ARMS). This survey will provide farmers and ranchers with an opportunity to
provide accurate, real-world data that will help shape the policies, programs and issues that affect them.
"ARMS asks a small, but representative, sample of farmers about their operation in order to
understand the current financial state of U.S. agriculture," said King Whetstone, director of the NASS
New York Field Office. "Participation in ARMS is so important because government and agricultural
leaders use the information needed to make sound decisions that impact the future of farmers, their
families, their businesses and their communities."
The survey will be conducted between January and March. In an effort to obtain the most
accurate data, NASS will reach out to nearly 35,000 producers nationwide, including 665 in New York.
Producers will be asked to provide data on their operating expenditures, production costs and household
characteristics.
"Farm organizations, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, other government agencies, members of
Congress, and State and local officials use the collective information from ARMS to answer questions
and make important decisions concerning the economic viability of American agriculture, the rural
economy and other emerging issues," explained Whetstone.
As with all NASS surveys, information provided by respondents is confidential by law. NASS
safeguards the confidentiality of all responses, ensuring no individual respondent or operation can be
identified.
The economic data gathered in ARMS will be published in the annual Farm Production
Expenditures report on August 2, 2011. All NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov.
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